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News / Legislature / State

Lottery, budgets dominate as session winds toward a close

The Memorial Day holiday is approaching, and state legislators are saying privately that they are ready for this session to be over, but much work remains to be done. Only 21 of a possible 30 legislative days have been used, so this session could technically last through mid-June, but this session was sidetracked by a … Continued
May 20, 2019

House Committee approves lottery bill

On Wednesday, the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee gave a favorable report to a constitutional amendment that would create a state lottery in Alabama. Gambling is prohibited by the Alabama 1901 Constitution, so passing a lottery requires amending the Constitution. Senate Bill 220 is sponsored by State Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore. The bill was … Continued
May 16, 2019

Lottery bill to be considered in committee this week

The lottery bill is expected to be voted on in committee this week. AL.com has reported the vote would take place in committee Tuesday, but later reporting by the Alabama Daily News stated that the vote would be Wednesday afternoon in the House Tourism and Economic Development Committee. As of press time, the legislature is … Continued
May 14, 2019

Poarch Creeks subject of multiple federal probes, White House is watching

UPDATE: Late Friday evening, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians released a statement disputing that the tribe is under investigation, calling the comments from sources cited in the story below “untrue.” Tribal chairwoman Stephanie Bryan called the story an “attack” on the Poarch Creeks and said the tribe operates its businesses “with the highest degree … Continued
May 9, 2019

Warren, McCampbell sponsor bills to allow electronic bingo in Macon and Greene counties

State Reps. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, and A.J. McCampbell, D-Demopolis, held a public hearing Wednesday to promote their local constitutional amendments legalizing electronic bingo in Macon and Greene counties. Warren’s bill is House Bill 422, while McCampbell’s is HB545. “This is an issue that are very important for the Alabama Democratic Caucus and the Black Caucus,” … Continued
May 9, 2019

Stutts says that this has been a contentious session

State Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Sheffield, provided a legislative update to the Shoals Republican Club at their monthly breakfast Saturday. Stutts said, “It has been a pretty contentious session.” “We have had a lot of non-Republican bills,” Stutts said. “It started with the special session for the gas tax. Then there was the lottery bill. Medical … Continued
May 6, 2019

Other states use lotteries to give kids a brighter future. Alabama wants to use lottery to build prisons

We have a vision problem in Alabama. We’ve always had a vision problem in this state. We are perpetually satisfied with how things are, with keeping things how they are, with resisting any change whatsoever. “Nah, we’re good,” should be our state motto. Even when making a change would benefit us, we resist. Even when … Continued
May 1, 2019

State lawmaker should not continue to give the Poarch Creeks a monopoly

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which is comprised of fewer than 4,000 members, have a monopoly over gaming in Alabama. The lottery legislation passed last week by the Senate, if adopted unamended in the House, will ensure the tribe’s monopoly not only continues but will grow exponentially. A “paper lottery,” as sponsored by the … Continued
April 29, 2019

Lottery bill gets favorable report from Senate Committee

The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee voted on Tuesday to give a favorable report to a bill that would create a constitutional amendment allowing voters to decide whether or not they wanted to have a state lottery. Senate Bill 220 is sponsored by Republican Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore. SB220 specifies that a lottery would be … Continued
April 24, 2019

The clown show rolls on: Albritton’s lottery bill advances out of committee

The worst lottery bill in history will get a vote in the Alabama Senate. The Senate’s Tourism Committee, with a 6-5 vote, gave Sen. Greg Albritton’s “paper only” lottery bill a favorable report on Tuesday. It is, presumably, headed for a full debate and vote in the Senate. Although, with a gambling bill in Alabama, … Continued
April 24, 2019